Majority of "high risk" group in Woodbury Co. still needs H1N1 vaccine

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KTIV) -- On Wednesday, the Iowa Department of Public Health reported four more Iowans have died of the H1N1 flu virus, including one from Monona County. All were adults, and all but one had a pre-existing medical condition.

Many clinics around the state are still limiting the vaccination to those in the high risk groups, like young children, pregnant women, and child care workers. That leaves many people outside the priority group wondering when they'll be able to receive their dose.

Siouxland District Health is receiving up to 2,0000 doses per week, but still has a ways to go until it takes care of the priority groups.

"We have 50,000 people in Woodbury County that are estimated to be in one of those five priority groups, and with the vaccine that we should have coming in by the end of the week or Monday, we're looking at having around 10,000 doses of vaccine in our community. So we're only about one-fifth of the way there," said Linda Drey of Siouxland District Health.

Siouxland District Health will hold an H1N1 clinic in Sioux City, Saturday at North Middle School from 9 a.m. to noon. There are limited vaccines available, so only those with children six months through four, and people with children under six months are going to be given the vaccine.